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Saturday, November 21, 2015

Kogi Election: Lokoja Locked Down by the Army; Voters Opt for water Transportation because of Fuel Scarcity.

Lokoja road is presently blocked by the Army, instead of checking vehicles and allowing people(travellers) to pass, they completely kept everyone out.

Ono Pink Journal gathered; "no entry no exit unless you are well connected or on emergency."

Also according to NAN; Many prospective voters opted for water transportation because of the fuel scarcity.

"Prospective voters from revirine communities in Kogi-East
Senatorial District on Friday opted for water transportation to enable
them reach their towns and villages ahead of Saturday’s Governorship
election in the state.

The electorates, who thronged the Ganaja river bank in Lokoja to
cross to Shintakun, due to the high cost of road transportation,
occasioned by fuel scarcity, compelled some of them to seek alternative
means of transportation.

Others, however, said that the congestion and gridlock on the
Lokoja-Ajaokuta road leading to the eastern part of the state influenced
their decision, adding that water transportation was "cheaper and
safer."

Mr Akpena Mamman, a Lokoja-based publisher, told NAN that he
registered at home (Bassa Local Government) and could not afford to miss
the opportunity to be part of the process of choosing the next governor
of the state.

He said that boat ride across the Niger was more convenient, shorter,
safer and cheaper for him, adding that it would afford him the
opportunity of getting down quick to take part in the last minute
mobilisation for his party.

A businessman, Mallam Saliu Mohammed, said it would take between 40
and 45 minutes to get to Dekina from Shintakun, adding that the boat
ride across the river enabled him to tidy things up at his shop in
Lokoja before living to perform his civic right in Dekina.

However, some artisans and market women, who spoke with NAN at the
river side, said the high cost of road transportation was their major
reason for using the water side.

Meanwhile, NAN reports that the area also witnessed heavy presence of security personnel.

"We are here to maintain peace and control the crowds that are
crossing the river to the other side for the election. So far, there is
no security threat. They have been peaceful. Over 2,000 persons have
passed through this place today," one of the security personnel who
preferred anonymity, said.

Chairman of Private Boat Owners Association, Ganaja branch, Mr Siaka
Musa, told NAN in an interview that many of his members witnessed an
unprecedented business boom, saying: “If not for the election, you can’t
see people here like this.

"This is our own way of contributing to the success of the election.
People moved through this place well, well, today, even more than
December period and we are also making a lot of money. We thank God for
this."
(NAN)